Jagmeet Singh apologizes for attending Kendrick Lamar concert after Drake calls him out
Jagmeet Singh has issued an apology on social media for attending a Kendrick Lamar concert in Toronto over the weekend after receiving sharp criticism from fans and rapper Drake.
Singh, the former federal NDP leader, was spotted inside the Rogers Centre during one of Lamar's back-to-back Toronto shows, part of the Grand National Tour with SZA. It's not clear what show he attended, but photos of Singh at the event quickly began circulating online, drawing attention to his controversial attendance.
Drake publicly weighed in on Singh's decision by posting a screenshot of an Instagram message he sent to Singh, saying, 'You're a goof.'
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Drake calls out former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh for attending a Kendrick Lamar concert. Drake/ Instagram Screengrab
Singh responded publicly just hours later, explaining himself in an Instagram story. 'I went for SZA, not Kendrick,' Singh wrote. 'I was born in this city. I love this city. But real talk, I get it. I shouldn't have gone at all.'
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Former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh apologized after Drake called him out for attending a Kendrick Lamar concert in Toronto, amid an ongoing feud between the two rappers. Jugmeet Singh/Instagram screenshot
The apology comes amid heightened tensions in the hip-hop world.
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Lamar's Toronto shows were his first in the city since a highly publicized feud between the two rappers.
One of the most viral moments from the concerts came during Lamar's performance of Not Like Us, a diss track aimed at Drake. The song earned a standing ovation and chants of 'one more time' from the crowd.
Despite the response, the track has sparked legal action from Drake, who is suing Universal Music Group, which represents both Lamar and SZA, claiming the song falsely portrays him as a pedophile and has endangered his safety.
None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been tested in court.
In his statement, Singh made it clear he didn't intend to take sides but acknowledged his stance over social media.
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'OVO and Drake have lifted this city and Canada,' Singh said. 'For me, it'll always be Drake over Kendrick.'
– With files from the Canadian Press
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Former NDP leader apologized publicly to Canadian rapper after pic went viral Rappers Drake, left, and Kendrick Lamar. Getty Images Jagmeet Singh is offering up a mea culpa after Drake branded him 'a goof' for attending a Kendrick Lamar concert in Toronto. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The former federal NDP leader who helped steer his party to historic defeat in April, losing his own seat along the way, went viral after he was snapped by fans inside the sold-out Rogers Centre. After a high-profile feud with Lamar played out on streaming services last year, Drake hasn't been shy about cutting ties with friends who seemingly sided with the Compton rapper. Former Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan, who was once one of Drake's closets pals, was dropped after he appeared in the music video for Lamar's scathing Not Like Us . Drake also ended his friendship with basketball great LeBron James after he was spotted at Lamar's 'Pop Out' show in Los Angeles last June. Making a rare public outing after his political life came to a grinding halt, Singh might have thought his night out would go unnoticed by the denizens inside the ballpark. But a photo of the onetime rising star on Parliament Hill quickly spread online, drawing Drake's ire. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Toronto rapper shared a text message conversation with Singh calling him 'a goof' in an apparent jab at the 'Maserati Marxist.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As it was reshared on Instagram and X, Drake's assessment divided the Internet, with some Singh apologists saying that the beleaguered politician deserved a night off. ' This is pathetic … He shouldn't have to choose sides in music because Drake can't handle a rap battle loss,' one person added. But others said Singh's appearance at the show was in keeping with his duplicitous time in politics when he was accused of propping up Justin Trudeau and the Liberals so he could hang on to his seat in the House of Commons long enough to collect his lucrative government pension. 'The guy destroyed the NDP and resigned before anyone could call him out for it,' one critic swiped on Instagram. 'Dude did so much damage to Canada. He is 100% a goof and has earned the name Sellout Singh!' they continued, namechecking one of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's many nicknames for the NDPer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Singh, who fruitlessly tried to use content creators and influencers to promote his election campaign this past spring, addressed the drama on his Instagram Story as he publicly apologized to Drake. ' I went for SZA not Kendrick.' he wrote. 'I was born in this city. I love this city. But real talk, I get it. I shouldn't have gone at all.' Singh then credited Drake and his OVO brand with 'lifting up' Toronto and Canada. 'For me, it'll always be Drake over Kendrick,' he concluded. Jagmeet Singh apologized afer being spotted at Kendrick Lamar's Toronto concert. Photo by Jagmeet Singh / Instagram But his apology drew even more mockery with many commenters ridiculing Singh for bowing down to Drake. ' Imagine a man apologizing to another man for going to see a concert,' one person joked, with another adding, '(Singh) folded after being called a goof. That's always why he's in last place every time in the elections.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Lamar's two-night stop at Rogers Centre was his first time in Toronto since he and Drake were embroiled in a rap beef that spanned several months last spring. Their musical war of words began after Lamar responded to a line in Drake and J. Cole's 2023 song First Person Shooter , in which Cole referred to the three of them as the industry's greatest hip-hop artists. Lamar dismissed that declaration on Future and Metro Boomin's Like That , spitting back, 'It's just big me.' Drake responded by mocking his rival for a ppearing on songs by Maroon 5 and Taylor Swift and made digs at the freestyler's short stature, calling him a 'pipsqueak.' But on his Grammy-winning Not Like Us , Lamar got the final say when he publicly called Drake a pedophile. 'Say Drake, I hear you like 'em young / You better not ever go to cell block one / To any bitch that talk to him and they in love / Just make sure you hide your little sister from him, ' he rapped. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The lines alluded to a 2010 concert video that resurfaced nearly a decade later in which the Canadian hitmaker was captured inviting a teenage fan onto the stage at a Denver show, where he proceeded to dance and fondle her. After the release of the chart-topping hit, Drake went radio silent and Lamar was crowned the winner in rap's biggest war ever. Drake ended up suing Universal Music Group, the label which represents both artists, accusing the company of promoting Lamar's pedophilia allegations and putting his life in danger. But Universal Music said that Drake was a willing participant in the escalating war of words when he released his own inflammatory diss tracks aimed at Lamar and hinted he was trying to take legal action because he was the loser in their rap feud. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Singh wasn't the only one seemingly taking sides. After he sold out two nights in a stadium Drake has never played, one of the viral moments from Lamar's Toronto shows came after he performed Not Like Us and the Rogers Centre crowd reportedly gave him a two-minute ovation and chanted for an encore. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Another cringeworthy video that went viral online saw fans gathering inside New Ho King, the Chinese restaurant on Spadina Ave. that Lamar name-dropped on his Drake diss track Euphoria , for an impromptu singalong for Not Like Us . This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Of course, the revellers didn't seem to understand that the lyrics of the song don't just take aim at Drake — they mock every person living in the city of Toronto. 'This is embarrassing,' one person wrote on Instagram. 'Kendrick was right, 'they not like us.' No loyalty to your own city. This wouldn't fly in L.A. if the tables were turned.' 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